Mizzou

Dorial Green-Beckham Chooses Missouri

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) — Coveted before playing a game for Hillcrest High School in Springfield, MO., wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham put an end to the long journey that was his college recruitment by choosing the University of Missouri on Wednesday morning in front of a national audience watching on national signing day.

News about ‘DGB’ committing to Mizzou broke earlier in the week, but he took the opportunity at his high school to make the announcement. In front of over a thousand in attendance at the Hillcrest gymnasium, the newest wide receiver for the Tigers made his decision by putting on a black hat with a gold bill that read ‘M-I-Z-Z-O-U’.

Standing tall at 6’6″, weighing 220 lbs., and capable of running a 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds according to Rivals.com, there was not a football program in the country that could not use the all-time national career receiving leader. The schools reportedly still in the running until he made his decision included defending BCS champion Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Missouri’s transfer to the Southeastern Conference last Fall certainly only helped their appeal.

“I mean it’s going to be a big impact to help Missouri join the SEC by being the best player out there,” he answered when asked about the SEC move.

Head coach Gary Pinkel made his first verbal offer to Green-Beckham before his freshman year at Hillcrest, which was the first time he ever made a commitment to a player that young. This is the most heralded recruit under Pinkel’s regime joining other in-state football greats like Blaine Gabbert and Jeremy Maclin. While visiting the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex a week ago, Tigers fans were outside cheering and imploring the Missouri native to stay home.

Green-Beckham, a three-sport athlete that also excelled in basketball and track, had his best year playing football this past season with 119 receptions, 2,233 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns. His highlights can be seen all over YouTube scoring on deep passes, short and long crossing routes, receiver screens, and running plays.

The Tigers instantly improve their explosive offense that averaged 32.8 points per game. While they ranked near the top of the nation in rushing yards with 244.0 per game, the Missouri pass game will look to get better as they put up 231.5 yards a game, which was good enough for 60th in the FBS last season. The Tigers have key players in quarterback James Franklin, tail back Henry Josey, and wide receiver T.J. Moe returning. They lost a key playmaker in tight end Michael Egnew, who is trying out for the NFL Draft, but the addition of ‘DGB’ certainly helps.

Wednesday afternoon, coach Gary Pinkel talked about what role ‘DGB’ could be playing next season: